OSU's Meyer handles CFP snub with class

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There was no rant from Urban Meyer aimed at the selection committee.

In the hallways of the practice facility, the Ohio State coach still was able to offer a smile and friendly greetings to anybody who walked by on Sunday afternoon.

Other than him sinking into the his chair at home, there was no furniture ever in danger of being busted apart in a fit of rage.

Deep down, there is no question there had to be some disappointment after the Buckeyes rather shockingly were left out of the College Football Playoff. But there was really not much public sign of it even in the immediate aftermath with Meyer standing in front of the team meeting room, still capable of making jokes and pointing to a spot on the wall where the Big Ten championship would be memorialized.

There is perhaps no better example now of how Meyer’s priorities and perspective have changed for the better at this point in his career than how he handled the selection snub. And not that there was any doubt before, but Sunday was a sparkling reminder of just how invaluable his leadership is at Ohio State.

“Sure, I just handle it a little differently than I did in the old days,” Meyer said. “The younger Meyer guy (would get) to the point where I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t do this, couldn’t do that. But you’ve got to move on.

“I sunk in my chair at home. Because I really thought we were in. I kind of looked at (the bracket) and stared at it for a minute. And then my thoughts were to the players, because I’ve been very fortunate to be around some really cool things. You have to understand they’re not kind of disappointed — they’re probably devastated. But that’s one thing families do: How do you handle devastation? Get around those you love and let’s go back to work.”

These Buckeyes have embraced a brotherhood that certainly goes far deeper than just a message on a T-shirt this season, and it’s clearly genuine based on what they put on display late in the year. That could have crumbled after the upset, blowout loss to Iowa last month. Instead it seemed to strengthen the bond, leading to a wild celebration together on Saturday night in Indianapolis after clinching a Big Ten title and what likely seemed to be a spot in the College Football Playoff.

All of those Buckeyes, particularly the seniors in their final campaign with the program, surely are struggling with the almost hard-to-fathom swing of emotions over the weekend. In 12 hours, they went from one of the highs of their careers to a shocking low, and it was clear how difficult that all was to process when J.T. Barrett and Chris Worley stood in front of a podium and faced questions about coming up short of the playoff.

But they also were showing signs of being able to handle it the way Meyer would want anybody at Ohio State to do it, a tribute both to those captains and the program he’s built.

“You’re definitely devastated,” Worley said. “Whenever you have so many guys internally, as a man, that you know that you put so much work in, you’re so invested. If you’re not devastated then you probably didn’t put the work in. For anyone that put in the type of work that we do throughout the whole year and not get that call, you definitely are devastated.

“But at the same time we still are so fortunate to be playing for so much. So you can’t change it. So the only thing to do is move forward.”

The Buckeyes don’t have to get over the stinging disappointment right away. The process won’t play out the same way for all of them as they try to turn the page for a rather appealing consolation prize in the Cotton Bowl against USC.